Still cannot decide, Army or airforce?

Question

I still can't make up my mind, the army or the airforce? I am female and want to join the military!

Answer 1

Consider doing this: Ask veterans you know what service they would want to join if they could do it all over again. Then ask them what their second choice was. I bet that most will give Air Force as their first answer, no lower than second.

Each service has a different lifestyle, it depends on what fits your desires the most. I remember seeing a cartoon comparing lifestyles. The first panel was sailors scraping paint on a ship. The caption was "This stinks". The second panel was soldiers sitting in the rain. That caption was "This stinks". The third panel was Marines hitting the beach with bullets flying over head. The caption was "This is tough, but I love it!". The fourth panel was an Airman sitting in his dorm room. The caption was "The cable is out, this stinks!".

Like I said, you need to determine how you want to live.

Answer 2

There are several things to remember when looking at this very important choice.

First, and in my opinion most important, if you go Air Force and don't like it, you can always switch over to Army. If, on the other hand, you go Army and want to switch to the Air Force, you are really rolling the dice. The USAF goes through long periods every couple years during which they will not take prior service (even prior service AirForce!).

Second, there is a significant difference in lifestyle between the two branches. The Army typically spends between 30 and 50% of their budget on soldier accomodations, with the rest going toward equipment, training and so on. The Air Force, on the other hand, typically spends upwards of 80% of their budget on airman accommodations. The contrast between facilities is so great that Air Force personnel who have to stay in Army barracks due to mission requirements are typically paid a "hardship duty bonus."

Third, the entrance requirements / career progression post-service. Air Force personnel tend to have significantly higher entrance scores (because the AF has a significantly higher standard). This is, in large part, due to the fact that AF equipment tends to be worth significantly more than Army equipment - meaning that at senior levels of leadership, you will have far more "responsibility" from a financial standpoint, based on the equipment you are responsible for. This can, and often does, translate directly into higher pay for post-service USAF personnel.

However... and I say this as former-service Army...

USAF are sissies. :) You should go Army.

Answer 3

AF - Serving your country, which is GREAT. That is amazing, and does so much to help others and helps keep freedom and I would never say DON'T join the airforce. LDS - I am LDS, and I believe that you should go on a mission. Young men can go on missions until they are 27, I think, so you don't have to go right away. Think about this: The airforce is serving your country and saving physical lives, a mission is serving your God and saving eternal lives.

Answer 4

I would suggest the Air Force not because I spent thirty-four years in it but because it tends to treat it's people better. In some ways that sounds like a cut against the Army but its not. The Army has more of a combat mission and role than the Air Force and so it is forced to be harder on its people and expect more from them in many ways. Also career wise the Air Force tends to want to retain its people in greater numbers than the Army. It gets pretty difficult to be out there in the field hustling an 85 pound pack, carrying a weapon as you get older.

Answer 5

First let me say that I'm happy to hear that you're thinking about joining the military. Second, they both have their strong points, and I'm sort of generalizing when I say some of the things about the two, but here are a few of the differences:
In the AF, you will get better food, better barracks, less deployment, and generally less of a "military" feeling.
Army has more general respect from the other services, more hardcore, but tougher living conditions. You'll be in better shape in the army, and can take harder situations.

Its all about what you want out of your service. I went Army because I wanted to be in better shape, and loved it (and still do). However, I had several friends in the AF, and I have to admit, it must be nice having someone clean your room for you! (Some AF bases have maids, but of course, not all).


EDIT*** Haha, the guy above me's story about the comic strips is to true! I remember when I was in Iraq, it was in the begining of the war, and there was little to nothing as far as provision go. One of our sgts had to run over to an AF camp to talk to an officer over there. He started to tell us about how as he was at the camp, an Air Force airman came into the room, opened a frezer and looked inside. He then slamed the freezed in a huff saying "What? No rocky-road ice cream? This war sucks."
We stared at our sgt in awe and said "They have freezers?"

Answer 6

Decide what you want to do as a career and find out which one will give you the best training towards that career. If you get equal training from both, go with the one which offers the biggest bonus. If the bonuses are equal, the Air Force has better quarters.

Answer 7

You don't say what MOS or AFSC you will be training for? This would help. You need to check out all your options from both branches, and do what is best for you. Good luck in your quest for the right one, Thank You for serving if you do join.

Vet-USAF 44 MMS / AF Brat

I never had a maid or anyone but me to clean my room. Yes Better food, easier work and less deployments, Someone watching over your shoulder all the time when in a secured AFSC.

Answer 8

I am in the army stationed near D.C., so I am around all branches and if I had it to do over, I would go Air Force they seem to take better care of their people.

An Old Guard Soldier

Answer 9

Well, a lot of my family works in the millitary, so sometimes I go onto the millitary base with them to meet soldiers and stuff. I was interested in joining, and the soldiers said that for a young girl, airforce would be much better than army. Plus, if you join the army, you will have to be away from home a lot. I hope that helps you out.

xoxoBecca

Answer 10

Seriously? The Air Force gets treated better, has more time for school, and you don't have to share a room with a bunch of other people. Where is the decision here?